ABOUT US

Kat Southam
Kat is an EC certified Competition English Level 1 Coach and first began riding in NSEC's summer camps and never looked back. She has pursued riding with passion and dedication, eventually competing nationally at Spruce Meadows in the 3'6 ring and thereafter competing up to 3'9.  More recently Kat has been focusing on dressage as her passion and is developing her own young horse as well as training and competing client horses.

Having owned horses since the age of 12, Kat has gained experience with a variety of different horses and places great importance in understanding the personality of your horse, developing a relationship and creating a synergy between horse and rider.

When not involved with riding, Kat had travelled extensively and enjoyed the opportunity to work with children overseas. Teaching English, working in refugee camps and taking part in international youth workshops has afforded Kat a special appreciation of child development and the teacher/student dynamic.

Kaz Zavaglia

Kaz (Katherine) is an EC certified English Instructor who grew up on the Sunshine Coast and has been riding since she was eight years old.  Her experience ranges from barrel racing and dressage to jumping and equitation. She trained her barrel racing Quarter Horse to jump and showed him English as well as Western. This knowledge is a great asset to Kaz and her students.

Always with a ready smile, Kaz loves helping students develop their basic skills and increase their understanding of horsemanship both on and off the horse. Away from the stables, Kaz has a BA from SFU, and is pursuing a degree in nursing from BCIT.  She loves photography and her favourite photo subject? A horse of course !

Gina Allan

Gina is our Dressage Coach and also helps coach the hunter jumper riders working in a team with with Gary Brewster, Lindsay Toevs and Laura Kinvig.  Gina is an EC certified Competition English Level 2 Coach. and is pursuing her Level III Dressage Coaching Certificate. Gina’s extensive experience includes three years studying and riding with former Canadian Equestrian Jumper Coach, Frank Selinger in Alberta before moving to Pennsylvania where she trained with International Dressage Clinician and author, Paul Belasik.

With a focus on Classical Dressage training methods Gina has combining her knowledge and passions of fitness and riding into her winning program: Equifit Services.  Please visit her website for information. 

Jinny Antilla

Jinny is an EC certified Competition English Level 1 Coach and began riding at age 4. Started in showing at age 7 she has  competed in the Hunter/Jumper circuit as well as Three Day Eventing. Now primarily focusing on eventing Jinny's students have placed in the top of their divisions in B.C. three day eventing. Jinnys daughter Ailsa,at age 13 won a gold and silver at the 1.10m jumpers  at B.C. Summer Games. Ailsa shares her mothers passion and has high goals as a jumper rider.

Jinny has has been coaching for 22 years and also runs her own eventing program in Squamish.  She is also on her way to receiving her Level II coaching certificate.  As a coach Jinny enjoys helping people work together with their horses to create a a unified team. 

Lindsay Toevs

Lindsay is an EC certified Competition English Level 1 Coach, and she started her passion by learing to ride right here at NSEC in our Riding School program.  She and her long-time buddy Dezi have been showing and competing in Hunters, Jumpers and Equitation for over 13 years. Lindsay has concentrated on the Jumper and Equitation rings, winning numerous championships at “A” circuit shows across the lower mainland and up in the interior.

Lindsay and Laura Kinvig work together training client's horses and taking students to horse shows throughout the season. In addition to riding and teaching at NSEC, Lindsay has earned a Bachelor’s degree in Tourism Management from Capilano University.

Lindsay has a true passion for horses, she loves riding, teaching and working with kids. She enjoys seeing the improvements of students from week to week and is always thrilled to see her students improve and evolve into better riders and horse people.

Mandy Cragg

Mandy is an EC certified English Instructor and has been involved with horses for much of her life.  She has been associated with NSEC for over 20 years, first as a riding student, then boarder.  From a Ballet background, Mandy believes that: Dressage is to Riding; what Ballet is to Dance.  Mandy endevors to help students by bringing an element of introducing 'balance in life'into the 'horse experience'  Spiritual and Healing Workshops, involving Horses, fleshes out Mandy's approach to teaching.

Mandy loves working with students of all ages; preferably in private lessons. Her lovely kind demenour teaches balance and harmony in riding; and kindness, gratitude and appreciation of the 'partner' the horse. Mandy feels that riding is more than an athletic endeavour. "Riding is a journey; an insight into ourselves; our boundaries, our tendencies, our weaknesses and our strengths. Riding does develop tools that can be taken back and used to improve our everyday lives".

Our Misson Statement

We are dedicated to excellence in service by providing:

A safe, friendly and caring environment for all horse enthusiasts and their horses.
Solid, quality instruction to encourage and nurture the desire to learn and provide the means to achieve fine horsemanship.

Laura Kinvig 

Laura is an EC certified Competition English Level 1 Coach and has literally grown up at NSEC, since parents Peter and Denise started the business in 1986. Since the age of 4 Laura has been riding, starting at age 7 on a showing path of hunters and jumpers. She has since trained and shown several succesful jumper and equitation horses and currently shows her horse Luxe succesfully in National competitions including Spruce Meadows, Thermal HITS California and other events.

Laura has a Bachelors Degree in Business Adminstration and is using these skills as NSEC Stable Manager and to attend to the needs of clients. Laura particularly enjoys training horses to jump, and she also teaches and shows client horses.   She loves helping people understand and communicate with their horses better.

Gary Brewster

Gary Brewster is one of Canada’s brightest stars for the future of Equestrian Show Jumping. Having come up through the ranks of the sport, Gary is now a mainstay figure in the Grand Prix Jumper ring. Deliberate, consistent discipline defines Gary’s program for success. Gary competes at numerous venues throughout the United States and Canada.

Gary’s incredible work ethic, pleasant demeanor and honest ways are a breath of fresh air in today’s sports industry.  His students enjoy his highly personalized and focused lessons. And his positive and patient style make him enjoyable for a wide cross section of hunter and jumper clients.